30/08/2003  Chelsea 2 Blackburn 2
 
The irony will surely not have been lost on Roman Abramovich as Blackburn, the last club to effectively buy their way to the title, caused Chelsea's first stumble of the season.

Rovers have themselves rather been throwing money around the transfer market of late, building a hungry, emerging side which appears bound for the upper reaches of the table.

Indeed, they took the lead twice at Stamford Bridge, with Andy Cole striking first after just 19 seconds and then again on 58 minutes.

However, Blackburn's recent riches are only due to the £17million sale of Damien Duff, who may remain Chelsea's record signing but only just as one of nine major summer signings.

One of those new arrivals, £15.8 million capture Adrian Mutu put Chelsea level on the stroke of half-time with his second goal in two appearances.

But it was left to a relative veteran of Stamford Bridge, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, to ensure the Blues a point with his 61st-minute penalty.

Even the introduction of Hernan Crespo as a substitute failed to secure victory for a Chelsea side who had won all four of their previous games at home and abroad.

Then again, Blackburn have not lost at Stamford Bridge in the league for 20 years and, despite claims of an elbow being used on Emmanuel Petit by Garry Flitcroft, they kept that record intact.

It was more than eight years ago that the side built by Sir Jack Walker clinched the Premiership title, a feat which Chelsea are now attempting to repeat on the back of Abramovich's millions.

However, that did not stop Blackburn seizing the lead after just 20 seconds after Marcel Desailly committed an elementary The Frenchman stumbled as he kept the ball in play on the touchline, teeing it up for Matt Jansen to pick his spot as he crossed the ball for Cole to swivel and volley past Carlo Cudicini.

Chelsea took time to settle, with Jansen directing a snap-shot just wide, and boss Claudio Ranieri switched around his midfield after just 18 minutes, with Damien Duff back on the left flank against his former club.

Indeed, it was only when Chelsea found some width that they showed any real threat.

After Duff's low ball just evaded Mutu, the Romanian did have the ball in the net on 28 minutes only to shake his head in disbelief when he was ruled offside as he converted Geremi's cross.

Television replays appeared to show that Mutu had been behind Geremi when the ball was crossed, although it was a close-run thing.

Play immediately continued, with David Thompson striking a shot just wide at the other end, but Mutu's mood did not improve when a penalty appeal was turned down as he fell over in the area.

Blackburn appeared resolute at the back, but Chelsea finally made the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time when Mutu capitalised on Lampard's through-ball.

The Romanian international went round Brad Friedel before slotting his shot into an empty net from a tight angle.

Ranieri switched his side around again at the break, with Duff making way for Petit in a diamond formation.

Cudicini had to shine when he produced a fine one-handed save to tip Thompson's free-kick over the bar.

However, the Italian keeper then flapped at the ensuing corner from the Blackburn winger after the ball flew just over Petit's head and Cole was on hand to stab the ball home on 56 minutes.

Chelsea were nevertheless back in the game just three minutes later when Lucas Neill was penalised for handling Geremi's cross after a neat back-flick by Mutu, and Hasselbaink converted the penalty.

Petit immediately left the pitch for further treatment, returning to administer a stern warning to Flitcroft for what he claimed was an elbow and stamp by the Blackburn midfielder.

That led to an angry touchline row between Ranieri and Souness, with fourth official Paul Durkin attempting to keep the peace, as tempers rose on the pitch as well.

However, despite Crespo and Joe Cole being introduced, it was Blackburn who created the best late chances, with substitute Paul Gallagher and Flitcroft both coming close.

As Blackburn will testify, money can, indeed, buy success. It might just not come overnight.